A revolutionary new generation of high-performance body armour, launched
today, is lighter, more comfortable and more protective than any previous design,
thanks to P2i's liquid-repellent
nano-coating technology.
The new G Tech Vest is a joint development between two world-class UK companies
with very strong credentials for the life protection market: P2i, whose technology
was originally developed to make soldiers' protective clothing more effective
against chemical attack; and Global Armour, which has been at the leading edge
of product innovation in the armour industry for over 30 years.
The G Tech Vest employs brand-new lightweight materials, both in the physical
armour itself (a closely-guarded trade secret) and the fabric that forms the
armour into a garment. P2i's technology reduces weight by avoiding the
need for bulky durable water repellents and increases comfort by preserving
the natural airflow and drape of the garment material.
Dr Terry McCartney OBE, Chairman of Global Armour Ltd, comments: “Police,
security and especially military forces around the world are expressing a keen
interest in our newly developed lightweight high-performance life protection
equipment. P2i's technology will now feature in all our future contract
tenders as an exclusive and highly valuable benefit.”
Dr Stephen Coulson, CTO of P2i Ltd, comments: “P2i stands for perform,
protect and improve, and this latest development plays to all three of our strengths.
Our liquid-repellent nano-coating technology delivers a step-change in comfort
and performance, yielding a new generation of light and comfortable garments
that will ease the burden on professionals required to wear life-protection
equipment.”
Protect and improve
While life protection equipment protects wearers from munitions and
bladed weapons, garments themselves require protection against chemical substances
used offensively, as well as other water and oil based contaminants such as
rain, dirt and perspiration.
Durable Water Repellents have traditionally been used to proof life protection
textiles against liquids. However, they deposit a thick and inflexible layer
of chemicals which adds significantly to garment weight, bulk and heat retention.
By contrast, P2i's technology creates a nanoscopic protective polymer
layer, one thousand times thinner than a human hair, over the whole garment,
including seams and stitching. When oil or water encounters this, it forms beads
and simply rolls off instead of being absorbed. This prevents the ingress of
external contaminants and encourages evaporated perspiration to flow out, helping
wearers to feel more comfortable in the most challenging performance conditions.
While P2i's liquid-repellent nano-coating is imperceptible to wearers,
it lasts as long as the garment material itself due to direct molecular bonding
with the textile surface.
Minimizing weight, maximizing comfort
By making life protection equipment more effective but also lighter
and more comfortable to wear, P2i and Global Armour are anticipating keen interest
and swift adoption of the G Tech Vest by Police, Military and Corporate clients
throughout the world.